Artic Silver 2.8 - OEM+ long term project

[5harp3y]

Day 3

fit new handbrake cables to the car end, very easy, just press them in by hand and then attach the cables in the car



press in your new shiny poly bushes by hand and put everything back together.

first also install your Revshift diff spacers and studs, this should help reduce negative camber by 0.5%








get it back under the car and prepare to wrestle with it for an hour or so



BUT THIS IS WHERE THE PROBLEMS STARTED

in the first post i said i have the job half done.

well

it would appear that Hack Engineering very accidentally sent me the wrong bushes to do this job and what you see are Revshifts E30 rear bushes ... which aren't compatible with our Z3's

this is a bit of a watchout, even though everyone says the Z3 uses a E30 rear end there are fundamental differences in how they are mounted.

the mounts are very different and as such the e30 ones are too long for the z3

so long story short, the car is still on axle stands, Revshift are sending me out a set of new bushes this week via UPS

massive bummer as i really wanted the car back together this weekend. but hey ho ... we live to fight another day.

 

[Dino D]

That's bloody good going single handedly too..
It going to feel really good.

Those diff spacers - can they be fitted on there own are they are set with specific beam bushes?

 

[Althulas]

Thanks for taking the time and sharing the write up it's one job I've got to face doing.

 

[g8jka]

Great write up, should see some improvement when your all done. Well done for taking it on

 

[GazHyde]

The project is coming along nicely now Tim, good job

 

[DavidM]

Great work and perseverance! Best of luck when finished!

 

[5harp3y]

That's bloody good going single handedly too..
It going to feel really good.

Those diff spacers - can they be fitted on there own are they are set with specific beam bushes?

Thanks Dino

They need the bushes too other wise the prop will be out of alignment

 

[5harp3y]

Thanks for taking the time and sharing the write up it's one job I've got to face doing.

It wasnt too challenging. Like any big job, just take it one bolt at a time

 

[5harp3y]

Great write up, should see some improvement when your all done. Well done for taking it on

Hopefully, the old bushes were disgusting

 

[5harp3y]

The project is coming along nicely now Tim, good job

Thanks for your advice on the phone mate, greatly appreciated

 

[Wilko58]

My car is going through exactly the same but as I need the spot welds doing as well I've got Martyn at Scott Performance ding all that work!

 

[Aaron MacQ]

Good work.
I'm putting off the same job until the winter months but intend to refinish the subframe in a slightly less subtle colour...
Oh, and I was going to use the powerflex 'adjustable' arms bushes... Haven't researched the adjustment ability much, just following my usual theory of anything 'adjustable' is better long term once you figure out the effects.

 

[5harp3y]

Good work.
I'm putting off the same job until the winter months but intend to refinish the subframe in a slightly less subtle colour...
Oh, and I was going to use the powerflex 'adjustable' arms bushes... Haven't researched the adjustment ability much, just following my usual theory of anything 'adjustable' is better long term once you figure out the effects.

yeah i think they would do the trick but i'm happy with just a moderate adjustment in these bushes

i was going to get the whole lot powder coated but the cost and time meant it wasn't feasible

 

[5harp3y]

SO after finally receiving the new bushes from Revshift in America i was able to get the car built back up and on the ground.

these are the missing bushes, as you can see they are heavily offset to raise the subframe. the difference in camber is visually noticeable.

then the rest went back together relatively easily

springs in, everything torqued up

Brakes bled and handbrake cable adjusted (Thanks @Lee and @t-tony )

only problem the was the battery has gone flat so i plugged in my new CTEK charger and left it to work.

First drive tonight .... kinda excited.

 

[Lee]

Looking good, I see now, raising the beam and spacing the diff then reducing the camber on the arms. Look forward to the Geo readings. If this works then that's the route I'll take the wifes z3 down.

 

[Antm72]

Does raising the beam lower the car further how does it sit now ?

 

[5harp3y]

Does raising the beam lower the car further how does it sit now ?

I'll get some good photos soon of the new stance.

Went for the first drive tonight and it handles like it's on rails now! Night and day difference in the rear end grip

 

[5harp3y]

Looking good, I see now, raising the beam and spacing the diff then reducing the camber on the arms. Look forward to the Geo readings. If this works then that's the route I'll take the wifes z3 down.

Yup, same theory as running extended ball joints on a front wheel drive car

 

[5harp3y]

Wow so a really long time with no update.

Mainly because unlike last year i have been driving the thing and stopped doing any work on it so i could enjoy it over the summer / autumn

So whats happened since the rear bushes were done:

Went to a rolling road day and made 205.8bhp which i'm over the moon with

Went on the great south downs run organised by @pgunter .... got lost a few times and sent everyone on a wild goose chase but had a mega time with a whole bunch of people from here.

Got a new company car
Got a new Puppy

Then nothing, just been driving it all the time right up until this week when the MOT ran out and time isn't on my side to get it done.

Have loads of plans for next year and have been slowly amassing the parts to get it all done. The pile currently has:

M50 manifold
Polybushes for front end (to match rears)
New (second hand) panels to replace my rusty ones

Then needs and service and gearbox oil change in the new year
Plus i want to do the front brakes as they aren't great and i feel like i need a bit more stopping power
realign the exhaust after raising the rear beam

 

[andyglym]

Wow so a really long time with no update.

Mainly because unlike last year i have been driving the thing and stopped doing any work on it so i could enjoy it over the summer / autumn

So whats happened since the rear bushes were done:

Went to a rolling road day and made 205.8bhp which i'm over the moon with

Went on the great south downs run organised by @pgunter .... got lost a few times and sent everyone on a wild goose chase but had a mega time with a whole bunch of people from here.

Got a new company car
Got a new Puppy

Then nothing, just been driving it all the time right up until this week when the MOT ran out and time isn't on my side to get it done.

Have loads of plans for next year and have been slowly amassing the parts to get it all done. The pile currently has:

M50 manifold
Polybushes for front end (to match rears)
New (second hand) panels to replace my rusty ones

Then needs and service and gearbox oil change in the new year
Plus i want to do the front brakes as they aren't great and i feel like i need a bit more stopping power
realign the exhaust after raising the rear beam

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Great power